Method of purifying and decolorizing petroleum hydrocarbons



Patented June 19, 1928.

one

ALFRED OBERLE, OF OAK PARK, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO THOMAS E.

res

SCOFIELD, OF KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI.

METHOD OF PURIFYIN'G AND DECOLORIZING- PETROLEUM HYDROCARBONS.

No Drawing.

This invention relates to improvements in the decolorizing of petroleum hydrocarbons and relates more particularly to the purifying, refining and decolorizing of lighter 0118 or distillates, such as those recovered from distillation, either under pressure'or atmos- Distillates recovered by vacuum distillation can be as well treated as those recovered under pressure.

It has been found that distillates such as those above mentioned, and particularly the lighter oils recovered from the decomposition of petroleum by pressure distillation are very apt to be discolored by exposure This tendency is particularly noticeable where gasoline is exposed in visible pumps to the suns rays.

coloration is objectionable to the marketing pheric conditions.

to light and air.

of the motor fuel.

0 Numerous methods and processes have been attempted to eliminate this objection able discoloration and to a considerable extent the action of the light rays upon the oil has been retarded. Processes such as steam distillation, repeated treatments with acid and caustic, sulphur dioxide, sodium plumbite, fullers earth, charcoal filters, Silica gel, etc., and other methods have eliminated, to a considerable extent, this tendency to There has, however, been no satisfactory method which will do away entirely with the discoloring of the oil andvalso prevent the action of the light prior to the time that the discoloration takes place.

It has been found that when a distillate is treated or washed with an aqueous solution containing potassium iodide that the distillate upon exposure to light or air will take on an orange or pinkish hue.

4.0 from the aqueous solution, the distillate is 30 discolor.

Application filed December 1, 1924. Serial No. 753,345,

sunlight.

Such dismaterial.

filtered, at which time the color is substantially removed; with a subsequent water wash the resulting product is water white and remains so even though exposed to direct The aqueous solution containing potassium iodide, separated from the distillate, may be reused or the salts separated by crystallization and redissolved in a fresh solution. There may be a small amount of the salts recovered from the filter through which the distillate was passed, or. instead of the salts, the material recovered may be in the form of other iodine compound. Satisfactory results have been obtained by the use of potas sium iodide employed as the water soluble A. factor of importance in connection with the treatment, is that a hydrocarbon distil- On separation material by filtration.

late combined with an aqueous solution con taining iodine compounds may apparently give no reaction when the combination or mixture is made in a darkened room or receptacle. It has been found that light, and

particularly the direct sunlight, has an activating effect upon the reaction, producing the discoloration in the form of an orange or pinkish hue to develop in the mixture soon after their combination. Evidently, light has the effect of bringing about or activating the reaction which takes place.

I claim as my invention: I

A process for decolorizing and purifying petroleum hydrocarbons, consisting in contacting the oil with a treating solution containing potassium iodide, permitting the oil and treating solutions toseparate, and separating the treated oil from the treatin ALFRED OBERLE. 

